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Week 5 Top 25

Week 5

1. LSU
2. Oklahoma
3. Alabama
4. Boise State
5. Wisconsin
6. Stanford
7. Nebraska
8. Oregon
9. Oklahoma St
10. South Carolina
11. Texas A&M
12. Florida
13. South Florida
14. Virginia Tech
15. Clemson
16. Baylor
17. Texas
18. Arkansas
19. TCU
20. Florida St
21. Arizona St
22. Georgia Tech
23. Michigan
24. West Virginia
25. Illinois

A few changes, LSU looked very good in their win over West Virginia hence the number one ranking, I always felt Florida State was overrated a bit and now the last two weeks have shown that.  Arizona St looked good in beating USC.  Game of the week has to be Nebraska at Wisconsin, could be a preview of the B1G championship game.

Jimmer's All Star Game

Some pictures I took at the game last night

Our seats, row 9

Opening tip

Jackson and Jimmer together one last time

Malcom Lee shooting free throws

Jimmer Team huddle

This boy can get up

Scoreboard at the end of the 1st

Red team huddle

Leonard gets fouled

Nolan Smith with the pump fake

Jimmer making free throws

Jimmer with the signature three

Angels and the playoffs

Will the Angel's make it safely to the playoffs?

The Angels are trying so hard to catch the Rangers or the Sox in the playoff race.  After they won tonight they are now five back on the Rangers which seems unlikely now that they will win the west.  But with the recent struggles of the Red Sox and the Rays having the play the Yankees a lot more they can win the wild card.  They tied the Rays tonight and both are 2.5 back in the wild card race.  The Angels play the Blue Jays once, have a three game weekend series against the A's and finish  at home with a three gamer against the Rangers.  They have a great shot at catching and maybe passing the Sox and Rays.  The Sox play three more in New York and then finish off with three in Baltimore, who they just lost 3 out of 4 to.  The Rays play four more against the Yankees and three against the Blue Jays.  I think the Angels have a great chance to catch up and pass both the Rays and the Sox.  Hopefully one of LA's teams can represent the city in the playoffs this year.

KeMVP

Matt Kemp is having a terrific year, one for the ages and one of the best a Dodger has ever had.  In his 567 at bats this season, as of 9/21 pre-game, he has
-Kemp (NL Rank)-
34 HR (T-3rd)

Matt Kemp, MVP?

113 RBIs (T-1st)
.321 Avg (3rd)
.399 OBP (4th)
40 SB (2nd)
104 R (T-1st)
182 Hits (4th)

His fielding percentage is .986 and he has 5 errors.

His numbers are insane the only other legitimate challenger would be Ryan Braun who's numbers are right up there with Kemp's, but Braun has great hitters in his lineup, Prince Fielder and to a degree Corey Hart, and that keeps pitchers honest.  Kemp has put up his numbers with a much worse lineup.  He has more than twice the home runs of Barajas (15) and almost twice as many RBIs as the second place Ethier/Loney (63).  He is more valuable to his team than Braun is.  Day in and day out he is the most dangerous hitter in the Dodger lineup.  And with Kershaw, they have brought the Dodgers from worst to above .500.

I remember seeing him when he first up to the team and knew that he was something special.  And at as he turns 28 on the 23rd of this month he is starting to reach that potential that we all knew he could.

*Update does he need anymore endorsement than Tommy.  "@TommyLasorda: Thanks for the birthday wish @TheRealMattKemp. I'm happy I could teach you how Italians twirl pasta. For me, you should be MVP."

Kershaw vs. Verlander

Cy Young for the Kersh

Justin Verlander has gotten a ton of attention this year and rightfully so.  His numbers are great 24-5, 2.29 ERA, 244 Ks, and many say he should win the MVP as well as the Cy Young.  And maybe he should, but in all regards a Clayton Kershaw has had an equal if not better season on a much worst team.  After 7.1 innings of one run baseball yesterday, he has lowered his ERA to 2.27.  He has 242 Ks and a 20-5 record on a not great, until late, Dodger team.  His season has put the Dodgers above .500 again for the first time since April.  And his inner fire is evident and shown by his teammates, Kemp tweeted last night, "Amazing accomplishment 4 Mr. Kershaw! That dude works hard and deserves every ounce of success he gets. 20 wins at 23...Ballin!! #BEASTMODE." Javy Guerra, who got the save last night said, "Great team win tonight, Feels good to see Kershaw get his 20th! CY young no doubt. And a class act all the way threw."  Don't get me wrong Verlander is having a great season.  He is 19-2 in his last 21 starts.  And is perhaps the biggest reason the Tiger were able to put on a great streak and take the AL Central.  Both have had outstanding seasons and both should win their respective leagues Cy Youngs.  Should Verlander get the MVP maybe, but don't look at his numbers without giving Kershaws a look also.

Week 4 Top 25

My Top 25 Poll for the week of 9/15
-feel free to comment or tell me what you would change

1. Oklahoma
2. LSU
3. Alabama
4. Boise St
5. Wisconsin
6. Stanford
7. Nebraska
8. Texas A&M
9. Oregon
10. Oklahoma St
11. Arkansas
12. Florida St
13. South Carolina
14. Virginia Tech
15. South Florida
16. West Virginia
17. Texas
18. Baylor
19. TCU
20. Clemson
21. Illinois
22. Georgia Tech
23. Michigan
24. Arizona St
25. Michigan St

Week 3 Top 25

Top 25 week of 9/12

1.     Oklahoma

2.     Alabama

3.     Boise St

4.     LSU

5.     Wisconsin

6.     Stanford

7.     Nebraska

8.     Texas A&M

9.     Florida St.

10. Oregon

11. Oklahoma St

12. Arkansas

13. Arizona St

14. Michigan St

15. Virginia Tech

16. South Carolina

17. South Florida

18. West Virginia

19. Ohio State

20. Florida

21. Texas

22. Baylor

23. Auburn

24. TCU

25. BYU

NCAA Football Previews

UCLA vs San Jose State- UCLA's offense looked good, the defense not so much, but they should roll over Spartans
Prediction: UCLA 28- SJS 10

Utah @ USC- USC didn't look great in their opener (other than Woods and his 3TDs.)  Utah played flat in the second half. This is Utah's first Pac 12 action but USC wins it, unless Kiffin goes for two every time.

Prediction: USC 35- Utah 17

BYU @Texas  The Cougars stay on the road in another tough stadium.  It should be an even match all around. If Heaps plays like he can the Cougars win, if not Texas takes it.

Prediction: BYU 21- Texas 17

West Coast NFL Previews

Chargers vs. Vikings- Phillip Rivers should have a good game, it will be interesting to see the running game and if Ryan Matthews can live up to his rookie hype.

Prediction: SD 28- Minn 17

49ers vs. Seahawks- Alex Smith vs Tarvaris Jackson, not a great game to watch QB wise, but I think the 49ers D wins it for them

Prediction: SF 17- Sea 6

Raiders @ Broncos- Lowing scoring game, Bronco fans will want Tebow if the Raiders pull it off.

Prediction: Den 10- Oak 6

Week 1 Top 25

Oklahoma- Solid Win

Alabama- Looked good

Boise St- Solid win away against Georgia

LSU- Big win over Oregon

Wisconsin- Russell Wilson looked very sharp

Stanford- Andrew Luck played well

Nebraska- Taylor Martinez played like he always does

Texas A&M- Worked SMU

Florida St- EJ Manuel showed what he can do

Oregon- Loss to LSU hurts national championship chances

Oklahoma St

Virginia Tech

Arkansas

South Carolina

Penn St

Michigan St

Ohio St

Arizona St

West Virginia

BYU

Texas

Florida

Baylor

Auburn

TCU

My Preseason Top 25

Working with Cougar Center I'll be doing a Top 25 each week of the college football season!

1.     Oklahoma- Lots of good guys coming back, tough road ahead though

2.     Alabama- Saban is a good coach with a good core of players

3.     Boise State- This could be the year they finally get to the ‘ship

4.     Oregon- Return a lot of that super high powered offense

5.     Stanford- Andrew Luck, need I say more?

6.     LSU- Les Miles always puts together a good team

7.     Wisconsin- Coming off a Rose Bowl appearance

8.     Nebraska- Looking to do work in the new Big Ten

9.     Texas A&M- Solid core coming back

10. Florida St- 18 returning starters

11. Oklahoma St

12. Virginia Tech

13. South Carolina

14. Arkansas

15. TCU

16. Notre Dame

17. Michigan St

18. Ohio State

19. Penn State

20. Arizona St

21. BYU

22. Texas

23. West Virginia

24. Florida

25. Auburn

The Dodgers and their beloved stadium

As much as we all hate Frank McCourt,  there is still hope out there, a light at the end of the tunnel, a hope that only us the fans still hold on to.  The mess the Dodgers are in has to do with McCourt, he has taken our once proud franchise and run it into the ground.  A franchise that has won 6 World Series.  A franchise that has turned out such greats as Koufax and Drysdale, Tommy Lasorda and others.  The franchise that broke the color barrier and got the one and only Jackie Robinson to play.  The franchise that brought baseball to the west coast.  This is the Dodgers. Our team.  And there is nothing Frank and Jaime can do about it.  This season hasn't been great.  The team doesnt hit well and has been hit hard by injuries.  But we have to support them, the team, not the McCourts.  Living in Utah there is only so much I can do.  I watch as much as I can.  I read about them and when I go home I go to the games, but we cant lose the hope that is in us.  The hope that will one day bring this great team the championship once again.

When you go to Dodger Stadium, you want to feel something.  There are few places in the world that are that special to me.  It is full of tradition and honor, you think of all the people who have come before you.  You think of listening to the game called by Vin.  You hear Nancy Bea on the organ.  The stadium is home for so many of us that we must not give up hope on our boys in blue.

I remember going to the game once in 2006 before the All-Star break and watching Nomar Garciaparra playing first.  My buddy and I started yelling, "Nomar, All-Star!" After a few innings he tipped his cap at us.  Such an awesome feeling.   I remember yelling at Barry Bonds from the left field pavillon and the entire section holding up an asterisk.  The countless times a beach ball, usually from the "99 Cent Store," flying around.  The wave going round and round the stadium.  "Don't Stop Believing" playing.  When Gagne walked out and it said 'game over' on the screens.  This place is spectacular it brings me back to time of happiness and peace.

Guys, don't give up on the Dodgers... give up on the McCourts! And never forget that this team is ours, now and in the future.

Think Blue!

Kobe vs Noah, Fan vs Ref, and the profanity of the NBA

So just over month ago, Kobe got hit with a $100,00 fine for calling a ref a gay slur. Yesterday Noah said the same thing to a fan and got hit with a $50,000 fine.  Now looking at it from a salary point of view it does take a higher percentage from Noah's salary (1.6% compared to Kobe's 0.4%.)  But I see this as no different, if I get pulled over for a traffic violation it will cost me same as much as anyone else no matter how much more or less money they make.   The NBA generates its money from ticket sales, tv and ad revenue, all which come from or are for us, the fans.  We buy the tickets, we buy the products that we see on the commercials.  In my opinion, Noah directed his comments at a fan which should hurt the NBA more than Kobe yelling at a ref, who is an employee of the league.  But by fining Noah half as much as Kobe they are putting more effort in protecting the refs and not the fans.  In February, Chris Paul was fined $15,000 for verbally abusing the ref after the game. (http://bit.ly/lQPyl2) The difference is this was on the court disputing a call after the game.  Kobe and Noah were only caught because of the tv cameras.  It just comes down to protecting the fans and their families.  In a move like this the NBA is  not doing that.

The NBA wants to promote a family friendly environment, but they need to realize that the players are what promote that image.  I feel like a lot of things that are said on the court should not be said.  While watching ESPN today I saw Durant yell a choice word out after missing a three pointer.  To me this happens a lot more than than the slurs or at least is caught on camera a lot more.  I feel that if Kobe and/or Noah had said something different without that term they would have received little or no punishment for it.  I see a double standard here.  One side is protecting a group of people while the other is hurting families and little children.  Another view can be made that while the word is most definitely inappropriate it was directed at the person because of their sexual orientation, it was meant more along the lines as stupid or idiot.  But the fines and apologies come because groups are up in arms that they are being singled out by the players.  I'm pretty sure Kobe and Noah were not doing this when in happened. All in all the NBA needs to clean up the players act and make them responsible for what they say on and off the court.  This will serve both the fans, their families and the groups that are offended by what is said.  

The Dodgers bullpen issues

The bullpen sucks this year... Kuo, Broxton, Padilla are all on the DL currently.


Broxton in 2009 was awesome, 7-2 with 36 saves, 2.61 ERA, with a with a near 4-1 K/BB ratio, and he was great up until the All-Start break last year... but now he has imploded and hopefully he can recover, but this year he has had problems with the ability to close games.  But he still has at least a month til he comes back.


Kuo in 2010 was great, he was a shut down 8th inning set up pitcher who along with Broxton gave us a great 1-2 punch to finish off the game. He had 12 saves, went 60 innings, with a 1.20 ERA, lefties .095 against him, but he know has the yips, which according to wikipedia is "an expression used to describe the apparent loss of certain fine motor skills seemingly without explanation in one of a number of different sports." So we hope he can recover and come back and be his former self.  


Both of these guys were in the All-Star Game last year. And the Dodgers were in the pennat race at that time.  


Padilla was the opening day starter last year, he played ok but not worthy of the opening day role, he pitched effectively after coming over from the Rangers, 8-7 with a 3.20 ERA, but now with new rotation and with him starting the season on the DL he hasn't helped the Dodgers at all this season, but if he can come back and be decent as a middle reliever or a spot starter he could still help us out.  


So, with the holes and the pitchers on the DL this could be a very hard time for the Dodgers not to mention the fact that the batting isn't to hot, and the McCourt problems,  This could be a long summer for the boys in blue and their fans.